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λατρεύω

latreúō

G3000 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To serve, especially in a religious or cultic capacity; to perform acts of service connected with ritual or worship, particularly oriented toward the divine. In Koine Greek and the New Testament, the term predominantly denotes formal or ritual service directed toward God (or, less frequently, other divine beings), often within the context of sacrificial or liturgical action. The verb encompasses both the act of ministering in a temple or sacred context and, more broadly, the rendering of religious homage through prescribed service.

Semantic Range

to render sacred or ritual service, to perform liturgical acts, to serve in a religious context (especially in temple or cult), to worship through service, to minister before the divine, to perform duties of a servant (especially in a sacred setting)

Root / Etymology

From the root λατρεύω (λατρεύω), related to λάτρις (servant, hired laborer). Derived ultimately from λάτρον (“hire, pay for service”), indicating service that could be performed for wages, but in religious contexts, shifts to denote service rendered to the divine without implication of payment. The root relates to acts of service or ministry, particularly of a sacred or cultic nature.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, λατρεύω referred generally to any service performed for another, either for pay or as a personal attendant. By the Hellenistic and Second Temple periods, particularly in the Septuagint, its meaning narrowed to religious service, most often denoting the acts of worship or ministry performed for a deity. In the New Testament, λατρεύω almost exclusively indicates the ritual or cultic service rendered to God by Israelites, Judeans, or early followers of Jesus, frequently in contrast with general acts of service (διακονέω) or secular employment (δουλεύω). LXX usage often translates the Hebrew עָבַד (‘avad), especially when referring to the priestly or Levitical service in the sanctuary or temple. This cultic focus is less pronounced in classical sources. English Bible translations vary: ‘serve’ or ‘worship’ each capture part of the meaning, but may obscure the specific ritual or cultic aspect of λατρεύω that distinguishes it from more general terms for service. The term is distinct from προσκυνέω (to bow down, do obeisance), which can describe acts of reverence toward humans or deities and is less tied to formalized ritual action.

Translation Consistency

primary "worship" 5 occurrences

λατρεύω primarily denotes religious/cultic service and liturgical acts directed toward the divine. 'Worship' is the natural, common English verb that captures the ritual/homage sense in Koine usage better than the more general 'serve' or awkward 'render.' It will produce clear, natural translations across all forms.

Alternatives (16 occurrences):
"render sacred service" (6x) "rendering sacred service" (3x) "serving" (2x) "serving in sacred service" (2x) "rendered sacred service" (1x) "serving in sacred ministry" (1x) "us render sacred service" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from (a hired menial); to minister (to God), i.e. render religious homage:--serve, do the service, worship(-per).

Root Family

λατρευ- (latreúō) — to serve, minister, render service

Root λατρευ- to serve, minister, render service

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3000-03 λατρεύω latreuo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I serve I render sacred service I render sacred service 4
G3000-02 λατρεύειν latreuein V PRS ACT INF to serve to render sacred service to worship 3
G3000-08 λατρεύοντες latreuontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL who serve serving in sacred service serving in sacred service 2
G3000-10 λατρεύουσιν latreuousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL serve they are rendering sacred service they are rendering sacred service 2
G3000-11 λατρεύσεις latreuseis V FUT ACT IND 2P SG you shall serve you will render sacred service you will worship 2
G3000-12 λατρεύσουσίν latreusousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL they shall serve they will render sacred service they will render sacred service 2
G3000-01 ἐλάτρευσαν elatreusan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL served they rendered sacred service they rendered sacred service 1
G3000-04 λατρεύωμεν latreuomen V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL we may serve let us render sacred service let us render sacred service 1
G3000-05 λατρεῦον latreuon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N SG serving rendering sacred service rendering sacred service 1
G3000-06 λατρεύοντα latreuonta V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG worshipper serving in sacred service serving 1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3000-11 Matthew 4:10 λατρεύσεις latreuseis V FUT ACT IND 2P SG you shall serve you will render sacred service you will worship
G3000-02 Luke 1:74 λατρεύειν latreuein V PRS ACT INF to serve to render sacred service to worship
G3000-09 Luke 2:37 λατρεύουσα latreuousa V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG serving rendering sacred service serving
G3000-11 Luke 4:8 λατρεύσεις latreuseis V FUT ACT IND 2P SG you shall serve you will render sacred service you will worship
G3000-12 Acts 7:7 λατρεύσουσίν latreusousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL they shall serve they will render sacred service they will render sacred service
G3000-02 Acts 7:42 λατρεύειν latreuein V PRS ACT INF to worship to render sacred service to worship
G3000-03 Acts 24:14 λατρεύω latreuo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I worship I render sacred service I render sacred service
G3000-05 Acts 26:7 λατρεῦον latreuon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N SG serving rendering sacred service rendering sacred service
G3000-03 Acts 27:23 λατρεύω latreuo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I serve I render sacred service I render sacred service
G3000-03 Romans 1:9 λατρεύω latreuo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I serve I render sacred service I render sacred service
G3000-01 Romans 1:25 ἐλάτρευσαν elatreusan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL served they rendered sacred service they rendered sacred service
G3000-08 Philippians 3:3 λατρεύοντες latreuontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL worship serving in sacred service serving in sacred service
G3000-03 2 Timothy 1:3 λατρεύω latreuo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I serve I render sacred service I render sacred service
G3000-10 Hebrews 8:5 λατρεύουσιν latreuousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL serve they are rendering sacred service they are rendering sacred service
G3000-06 Hebrews 9:9 λατρεύοντα latreuonta V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG worshipper serving in sacred service serving
G3000-02 Hebrews 9:14 λατρεύειν latreuein V PRS ACT INF serve to render sacred service to worship
G3000-07 Hebrews 10:2 λατρεύοντας latreuontas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL worshipers serving in sacred ministry serving in sacred ministry
G3000-04 Hebrews 12:28 λατρεύωμεν latreuomen V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL we may serve let us render sacred service let us render sacred service
G3000-08 Hebrews 13:10 λατρεύοντες latreuontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL who serve serving in sacred service serving in sacred service
G3000-10 Revelation 7:15 λατρεύουσιν latreuousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL they serve they are rendering sacred service they are rendering sacred service
G3000-12 Revelation 22:3 λατρεύσουσιν latreusousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL will serve they will render sacred service they will render sacred service
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